Automatic divider



Dec. 17, 1968 L. SVOBIDA 3,41%,640

AUTOMATIC DIVIDER Filed Feb. 24, 1965 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F\G 4 INVENTORLOREN SVOBIDA ATTORNEYS ec. 17, 1968 1.. SVOBIDA AUTOMATIC DIVIDER Y 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24 1965 INVENTOR LOREN SVOBIDA ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent 3,416,640 AUTOMATIC DIVIDER Loren Svobida, 1837 W.88th St., Chicago, Ill. 60620 Filed Feb. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 434,929 6Claims. (Cl. 198-31) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A divider for dividingarticles moving along a first conveyor line onto two second conveyorlines. Self-correcting and self-compensating counter means associatedwith each second conveyor line to actuate the divider.

This invention relates in general to an automatic divider, and moreparticularly to a device for dividing articles moving along a singleconveyer line between two conveyer lines in accordance with apredetermined division ratio.

While the present invention has many applications, it is especiallyuseful in a cannery or operation where cans are conveyed from a labelingmachine to a case packer. In this application, it is usually desirableto divide the line of cans moving from the labeling machine into two ormore lines for feeding into the case packer. The present invention iscapable of dividing a single line of cans into a double line evenly orin accordance with a predetermined ratio at high speed. Usually in aninstallation where cans are divided from a single primary line into apair of secondary lines, a gate is provided to direct the cans from theprimary line into either of the two secondary lines. The presentinvention involves counting of the cans as they enter the secondarylines and thereafter operating the gate to divert the cans into eitherof the secondary lines in accordance with the number desired in eachline.

More particularly, the present invention includes solid state circuitrydetecting the movement of cans in the secondary lines and therebyoperating the positioning of the gate to divert the cans from theprimary line into the desired secondary line. Normally an even divisionof cans will be employed. The solid state circuitry includes aphotoelectric detector for each line that detects the cans movingtherealong, and each detector operates a feedback driver to drive binarycounters. The binary counters for each secondary line in turn drive abi-stable oscillator which is coupled to a power transistor by anemitter follower and drives the latter. The emitter follower drives thepower transistor which operates a relay that in turn controls a solenoidfor positioning of the gate at one of the secondary lines. Assuming thatthe binary counters are such as to count sixteen cans, after sixteencans have passed by the photoelectric detector on one of the secondarylines, the gate is actuated to divert the flow of cans to the othersecondaryline. If more than sixteen cans happen to pass along the firstsecondary line before switching of the gate, this count will be storedin the binary counters of that line and thereafter included in the nextcount of sixteen. And at that time if the counters have stored a countof two, only fourteen more cans pass through the gate before it isswitched to the other secondary line. Thus, the division of cans betweenthe two secondary lines is automatically corrected as the gate switchesback and forth.

Heretofore, dividers have been employed for dividing articles inconveyer lines and where the articles are divided into two lines, butsuch dividers have been slow in operation thereby causing malfunctioningof the overall conveyer line and costly shutdowns. In theseinstallations the cans are often damaged by jamming of the cans,

and these damaged cans sometimes go unnoticed into the cases and arethereafter put on the market.

In one specific example, it has been customary to use mechanicalflip-flops to divide the cans from one primary line leading out of acase packer into two secondary lines and then further divide withadditional flip-flops. Such mechanical flip-flops have a top speed ofonly 600 to 700 cans per minute. The very nature of the flip-flops issuch as to damage many cans which often go undetected. In addition suchmechanical flip-flops have a tendency to jam up, causing costly delays.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved automatic divider for dividing articles from a single primaryconveyer line into a plurality of secondary conveyer lines, and toobviate the above named diificulties.

A further object of this invention is in the provision of an automaticdivider for dividing a line of articles into two lines in accordancewith a predetermined ratio.

Still another object of this invention is in the provision of anautomatic divider for dividing articles moving along a single primaryconveyor line into a pair of secondary conveyor lines, wherein thedivision between the lines may be even.

A further object of this invention is to provide an automatic dividerfor controlling the movement of articles from a single primary conveyerline to a pair of secondary conveyer lines which is self-correcting ifmore than the intended count of articles happens to pass to any onesecondary conveyer line.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of anautomatic divider for dividing articles from a single primary line intoa pair of secondary lines wherein the articles may be cans or the likeand wherein the invention eliminates damaged cans, increases the speedof operation by a material amount, and accurately divides the articlesinto the secondary line.

Other objects, features and advantages of the inven tion will beapparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like referencenumerals refer to like parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the present invention as applied to aconveyer for dividing the movement of articles from a single primaryconveyer line to a pair of secondary conveyer lines;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electrical circuitry of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the dividing of one line intotwo equal lines and the dividing of the two lines further into fourequal lines as an application of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram. illustrating the dividing of one lineinto two first and second unequal lines and the further dividing of thefirst unequal lines into two equal lines of the same number as thesecond unequal line; and

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are electrical schematic diagrams of the circuitry ofthe invention.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, an applicationof the present invention is illustrated in connection with the movementof cans 10 by gravity along a primary conveyer line 11 and tofirst andsecond secondary conveyer lines 12 and 13, wherein a gate or guide means14 of any suitable type is operated to shift the discharge end of theprimary line 11 selectively into communication with the intake ends ofthe first and second secondary conveyer lines 12 and 13. Thus, when thegate 14 is in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1. the cans fromthe primary conveyer line 11 will be directed to the first secondaryconveyer line 12, while when the gate 14 is in the position shown indotted lines, the cans from the primary conveyer line 11 will bedirected to the secondary conveyor line 13. A spring member 15 serves tonormally position the gate 14 in alignment with the first secondaryconveyer line, while an actuator in the form of a solenoid in theillustrated embodiment and designated by the numeral 16 will shift thegate 14 into alignment with the second secondary conveyer line 13 whenit is energized. Deenergization of the solenoid permits the return ofthe spring 15 to bring the gate 14 back in alignment with the firstsecondary conveyer line 12. While a return spring and solenoidarrangement is shown for shifting the gate 14 between its first andsecond positions, it should be appreciated that other known actuatingmeans may be provided if desired.

A photoelectric device or detector 17 is positioned at the inlet end ofthe secondary conveyer line 12, while a photoelectric device or detector18 is positioned at the inlet end of the secondary conveyor line 13.These devices are activated by each can that passes thereby, therebysending a signal into electronic counters 19 and 20, respectively, whichin turn deliver a signal to a drive circuit 21 that controls theoperation of a relay 22 for energizing and de-energizing he solenoid 16and ulimately causing the shifting of the gate 14 between the first andsecond secondary lines. Each of the counters 19 and 20 may be set tocount the same number of articles or cans or may be set to countdifferent numbers of cans or articles so that the gate may be shiftedwhen the predetermined number has been counted.

More particularly, the photoelectric device 17 feeds a signal to afeed-back driver 23 such as a Schmitt trigger, which in turn, triggersthe first flip-flop circuit 24 of a binary counter that in this exampleincludes additional flip-flop circuits 24a, 24b and 24c. Similarly, thephotoelectric device 18 feeds a signal to a feed-back driver 25, such asa Schmitt trigger, which in turn, drives the first flip-flop circuit 26in a binary counter including additional flip-flop circuits 26a, 26b and260. The last flip-flop circuits 24c and 26c of each of the binarycounters in turn actuate a further flip-flop circuit or bi-stableoscillator 27. The binary counter of the photoelectric device 17 willcondition he bi-stable oscillator 27 one way, while the binary counterof the photoelectric device 18 will condition the bi-stable oscillatorin an opposite way. An emitter follower 28 couples the bi-stableoscillator 27 to and drives the power transistor 29, that in turn,operates the relay 22. While each of the binary couners included in FIG.2 are shown to have the same number of flip-flop circuits, it should beappreciated that the invention covers an example where the one counterwould include more flip-flop circuits than the other. Wherein there arefour flip-flop circuits in the binary counters as in the embodiment ofFIG. 2, a count of sixteen cans will be made before shifting of the gate14 to divert the cans to the other secondary conveyer line.

The circuitry is powered by a power supply such as shown in FIG. whichincludes a transformer 30 having a primary coil 31, a first secondarycenter-tapped coil 32 and a second secondary coil 33. The primary coil31 is provide-Ad with overload protection in the form of a fuse 34 orthe like, and is adapted to be connected to a suorce of 110 voltalternating current power. The secondary coil 33 merely powers theexciter lamps of the photoelectric device which may be designated 17aand 180, while the secondary coil 32 provides at 35 a full wave,rectified, negative, direct current voltage of about 14 volts and at 36a half wave, rectified, positive direct current voltage used as astandoff voltage of about 14 volts. Power diodes 32a, capacitors 32b,and a bleeder resistor 32c are provided in the power supply.

Referring now to FIG. 6, upon interruption of the light beam between theexciter lamp 171: and the photocell 17, a signal is fed to the Schmitttrigger 23 to cut off the current flow of the first transistor 37 andturn the second transistor 38 on or in conducting conditions to in turnsend a signal into the first flip-flop circuit 24 of the binary counterincluding flip-flop circuits 24, 24a, 24b and 24c. It should beappreciated that the Schmitt trigger 25 is the same as the Schmitttrigger 23 and that the electrical circuitry of one of the counters willbe the only circuitry specifically described. Further, the flip-flops24a, 24b and 240 are identical to the flip-flop 24 and are therefore notshown.

Within the Schmitt trigger 23, an isolation resistor 39 leads to thebase of the first transistor 37, while a collector load resistor 40 isprovided in connection with the collector thereof. A common emitterfeed-back resistor 41 is provided in connection with the emitters of thefirst and second transistors. A cross switching capacitor 42 and a crossswitching resistor 43 extend between the collector of the firsttransistor and the base of the second transistor 38, while a voltagedivider resistor 44 extends between the base of the transistor 38 andground. A collector load resistor 45 is provided for the collector ofthe second transistor 38. As already indicated, the first transistor 37is cut off by operation of the photoelectric cell 17 thereby making thesecond transistor 38 conducting, and when the photoelectric cell 17 isnot interrupted, the first transistor 37 will conduct and cut off thesecond transistor 38.

A coupling capacitor 46 connects the output of the Schmitt trigger withthe input of the flip-flop circuit 24. The fiip-fiop circuit 24 includesa first transistor 47 and a second transistor 48. These transistors havecollector load resistors 47a and 4811, respectively. Each of theflipfiop circuits additionally include an input 49 and an output 50, theinput 49 being connected to the coupling capacitor 46, and the output 50being connected to the coupling capacitor 51 that is in turn connectedto the input 52 of the next flip-flop circuit. Any number of flip-flopcircuits may be connected together depending upon the count desired foreach of the secondary conveyer lines, and the last flip-flop circuit hasits output connected to one of the inputs 53 or 54 of the bi-stableoscillator 27. Each of the flip-flop circuits additionally includessteering diodes 55 and 56, a recovery diode 57, cross switchingcapacitors 58 and 59, cross switching resistors 60 and 61, and holdotfresistors 62 and 63. Standoflf voltage is applied at 64 and the regularpower voltage is applied at 65.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 7, the bi-stable oscillator or outputcircuit 27 includes first and second signal transistors 66 and 67. Alongthe input lines 53 and 54, coupling capacitors 68 and 69, respectively,and signal diodes 70 and 71, respectively, are provided. The transistor66 is provided with a collector load resistor 72, while the transistor67 is provided with a collector load resistor 73.

Additionally, cross switching capacitors 74 and 75, and cross switchingresistors 76 and 77 are provided in the circuit. Holdolf resistors 78and 79 extend between the bases of the transistors and the holdoffvoltage supply 80, the latter of which would be the same as the holdoffvoltage applied at 64 in the flip-flop circuit 24.

The emitter follower 28 includes a small sign-a1 transistor 81 having abase resistor 82 and an emitter load resistor 83.

A holdotf connecting resistor 84 extends between the output of theemitter follower and the power transistor 29. A power diode 85 insurescomplete cut off of the power transistor in the off condition, while apower diode 86 protects the collector of the power transistor from theself-induced voltages generated by the inductive load of the relay coil.The output 87 of the power transistor feeds into the relay 22 havingrelay contacts 22a that when closed energize the solenoid 16.

In a satisfactorily operating circuit according to the presentinvention, all of the transistors employed are PNP type, and thetransistors employed in the Schmitt trigger 23, flip-flop circuits 24,:bi-stable oscillator 27 and emitter follower 28 are small signaltransistors, such as the 2N396A type. In the power supply, the powerdiodes could be 1N540, while the capacitors are 500 microfarads, 25volt, and the bleeder resistor is 1.5K and 1 watt. A suitable powerdiode would be a 1N540. A suitable power transistor would be a 2N627.All of the resistors employed may be rated at one-half watt with thefollowing values.

Number of resistor: Value in ohms 17b 4.7K 39 1K 40 3.3K 41 .68K 43 1.8K44 6.8K 45 2.2K 47a 6.8K 48a 6.8K 60 K 61 15K 62 100K 63 100K 72 5.6K 735.6K 76 15K 77 15K 78 100K 79 100K 82 1K 83 3.3K 84 1K Suitable valuesfor the capacitors are as followers:

Number of capacitor: Capacitors in microfarads The diodes 70 and 71 aresmall signal diodes such as lN67A. The steering and recovery diodes 56and 57 could be lN67A.

The operation of the automatic divider of the invention, andparticularly the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, wherein there are four fiipflop circuits for each binary counter is as follows assuming that all ofthe flip-flop circuits are conditioned to receive a count wherein thefirst transistor of each circuit is off and the second transistor is on,and further assuming that the gate 14 is in the position shown in solidlines in FIG. 1. As the first article passes the photoelectric cell 17,a signal is imparted to the Schmitt trigger 23 cutting ofi the firsttransistor and conditioning the second transistor on to conduct. Whenthe second transistor in the Schmitt trigger conducts, a signal isimparted to the first flip-flop circuit 24 to turn on the firsttransistor and turn off the second transistor. After the articlecompletes the interruption of the photo electric cell 17, the secondtransistor cuts oil and the first one conducts. When the next articleinterrupts the photoelectric cell beam, the Schmitt trigger operates asabove explained and sends a signal to the first flip-flop which thenconditions the first transistor to off position and the secondtransistor to on position, the latter of which triggers operation of thesucceeding flip-flop circuit 24a to turn the first transistor on and thesecond transistor off. This sequential operation continues through theremaining flip-flop circuits 24b and 240 and when the photoelectric cellbeam has been interrupted sixteen times, the last flip-flop circuit 240will trigger the bistable oscillator 27 to further operate the powertransistor 29 through the emitter follower 28 and cause energization ofthe relay 22 to close the contacts 22a, thereby energizing the solenoid16 to pull the gate 14 into alignment with the secondary conveyor line13 as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 to thereby divert the movement ofarticles from the primary conveyer line 11 thereto. Thereafter, thephotoelectric cell 18 and its associated Schmitt trigger and flip-flopcircuits begin to count sixteen articles in the same manner as thecircuitry associated with the first secondary conveyer line 12 toultimately condition the bi-stable oscillator 27 to cut off the powertransistor 29, thereby de-energizing the relay 22 to open its contactsand de-energize the solenoid 16. The return spring 15 then returns thegate 14 into alignment with the first secondary conveyer line 12. Moreparticularly, in the operation of the bi-stable oscillator, if a signalcomes in on the input 53, it will cause the transistor 66 to conduct,the transistor 67 to cut oil, the emitter follower transistor 81 to on,the power transistor 29 to on and the energization of the relay 22. Onthe other hand, if a signal is sent to the input 54 of the bistableoscillator, it would cause the transistor 67 to conduct the transistor66 to off position, the transistor 81 to off, the power transistor 29 tooff and the de-energization of the relay 22.

With the embodiment of FIG. 2, the articles or cans 10 will be dividedequally between the secondary conveyer lines 12 and 13 inasmuch as thebinary counters associated with each secondary line are of the samenumber. It will be appreciated that any number of flipflop circuits maybe arranged in the binary counter of either of the secondary conveyerlines to obtain division of articles between the secondary lines inaccordance with any binary ratio. Moreover, where it is desired that thebinary counter count an odd number of articles, a suitable feed-backcircuit can be employed. For example, if the count is to be nine, fourflip-flop stages could be used with a feedback of the sixteenth count toreset the counter to seven where it would count nine to reach the fullcount of sixteen.

Referring again to the embodiment of FIG. 2, should a greater number ofcans pass onto one of the secondary conveyer lines than sixteen or thecount of a binary counter, the subsequent cans will be counted andstored in memory in the binary counter. For example, if eighteen canspassed the photoelectric cell 17 before the gate 14 could be shifted,the binary counter of that line would store a count of two and the nexttime it continues to count the cans, the gate 14 will shift afterfourteen cans have. been counted. Thus, the automatic divider of thepresent invention is self-correcting and self-compensating so that thedivision between the secondary conveyer lines will be as desired at alltimes.

When setting up the automatic divider of the invention, the countingcircuits may be initially set by hand by passing an article or hand of aperson through the photoelectric cell beam until the gate switches.However, a zero reset device may be provided for the binary counter ifdesired.

An example of using the present invention wherein it is desired to splitone primary line into four secondary lines is shown diagrammatically inFIG. 3, wherein a gate and divider 87 are provided at the end of theprimary conveyer line 88 for evenly dividing eight articles into each ofthe secondary conveyer lines 89 and 90. In this instance, the binarycounters would include three flip-flop circuits. The secondary conveyerlines 89 and 90 thereafter become primary conveyer lines, wherein onegate and divider 91 are provided at the end of the line 89 and anothergate and divider 92 are provided at the end of the line 90. The gate anddividers 91 and 92 further divide the line into additional secondarylines 93, 94, 95 and 96 in an equal manner wherein four articles aredirected to each line. The dividers 91 and 92 would have binary counterswith two flip-flop circuits. Thus. a division would be made toultimately provide four secondary conveyer lines from a single primaryconveyer line. It should be appreciated that the latter lines couldagain be divided or that the initial counts in secondary lines 89 and 90may be of any desired binary ratio.

In the diagrammatic illustration of FIG. 4, a gate and divider 97 areprovided at the end of the primary conveyer line 98 to bring out a twoto one ratio of division wherein sixteen articles are delivered to thefirst secondary conveyer line 99 to every eight articles being deliveredto the second secondary conveyer line 100. Thereafter, a furtherdivision is made in the line 99 by a gate and divider 101 for providingtwo additional secondary conveyer lines 102 and 103 having a one to oneratio of division wherein eight articles are delivered to one line andthen eight to another and so on. The binary counters for the divider 101would include three flip-flop circuits as would the binary counter forthe line 100, while the counter for the line 99 would include fourflip-flop circuits. Thus, a single conveyer line could be split intothree conveyer lines of equal division.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention, but it is understood that this application is to be limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In combination with a single primary conveyer line having articlesmovable therealong, first and second secondary conveyer lines, a gatearranged between the discharge end of the primary line and the receivingends of the first and second secondary lines for selectively directingthe articles from the primary line to one of said secondary lines, andan actuator for driving said gate be tween said first and secondconveyer lines, self-correcting and self-compensating means counting thearticles received by said secondary lines and for operating saidactuator to divide the articles discharged from the primary line betweensaid secondary lines in accordance with a predetermined ratio, saidmeans comprising, first and second photoelectric devices adjacent thereceiving ends of said first and second secondary conveyer linesrespectively and arranged to be operated by articles passing thereby,first and second binary counters operated by said devices, and meansoperated by said binary counters to drive said actuator.

2. In combination with a single primary conveyer line having articlesmovable therealong, first and second secondary conveyer lines, a gatearranged between the discharge end of the primary line and the receivingends of the first and second secondary lines for selectively directingthe articles from the primary line to one of said secondary lines, andan actuator for driving said gate between said first and second conveyerlines, first counting means at the receiving end of said first secondaryline for counting a predetermined number of articles and second countingmeans at the receiving end of the second secondary line for counting apredetermined number of articles, and means operated in response to theoutputs of said counters to drive said actuator for shifting said gatebetween said secondary lines, said first and second counting means beingself-correcting and self-compensating, whereby a greater than thepredetermined number count during one cycle of a counter will be heldand deducted from the next count thereof.

3. In combination with a single primary conveyer line having articlesmovable therealong, first and second secondary conveyer lines, a gatearranged between the discharge end of the primary line and the receivingends of the first and second secondary lines for selectively directingthe articles from the primary line to one of said secondary lines, andan actuator for driving said gate between said first and second conveyerlines, self-correcting and self-compensating means for counting thearticles received by each secondary line and operating said gateactuator to divide the articles between the secondary lines inaccordance with a predetermined ratio, said counting means includingfirst and second photoelectric devices at the receiving ends of saidfirst and second secondary lines respectively responsive to count eacharticle passing thereby, first and second binary counters operated bythe first and second photoelectric devices respectively, and meansconnected to the outputs of said binary counters for driving saidactuator.

4. In combination with a single primary conveyer line having articlesmovable therealong, first and second secondary conveyer lines, a gatearranged between the discharge end of the primary line and the receivingends of the first and second secondary lines for selectively directingthe articles from the primary line to one of said secondary lines, andan actuator for driving said gate between said first and second conveyerlines, self-correcting and self-compensating means for counting thearticles received by each secondary line and operating said gateactuator to divide the articles between the secondary lines inaccordance with a predetermined ratio, said counting 7 means includingfirst and second photoelectric devices at the receiving ends of saidfirst and second secondary lines respectively, first and second feedbackdrivers having their inputs respectively connected to said first andsecond photoelectric devices, first and second flip-flop circuits havingtheir inputs respectively connected to the outputs of said first andsecond feedback drivers, a bi-stable oscillator having first and secondinputs respectively connected to the outputs of said first and secondflip-flop circuits, an emitter follower having its input connected tothe output of the bi-stable oscillator, a power transistor having itsinput connected to the output 0 fthe emitter follower, and a relayhaving its input connected to the output of the power transistor andhaving a normally open set of contacts, whereby closingof said contactsoperates said actuator.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said actuatorcomprises a solenoid.

6. In combination with a single primary conveyer line having articlesmovable therealong, first and second secondary conveyer lines, a gatearranged between the discharge end of the primary line and the receivingends of the first and second secondary lines for selectively directingthe articles from the primary line to one of said secondary lines, andan actuator for driving said gate between said first and second conveyerlines, self-correcting and self-compensating means for counting thearticles received by each secondary line and operating said gateactuator to divide the articles between the secondary lines inaccordance with a predetermined ratio, said counting means includingfirst and second article detecting devices at the receiving ends of saidfirst and second secondary lines respectively responsive to count eacharticle passing thereby, first and second binary counters operated bythe first and second article detecting devices respectively, andmeansconnected to the outputs of said binary counters for driving saidactuator.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,697,757 1/ 1929 Dahlstrom198-40 2,493,464 1/1950 Nelson 198- 10 2,933,185 5/1960 Coleman 2502093,142,761 7/1964 Rabinow 2502O9 RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 198-40

